Tack strip feeding mechanism



E; KIL ME R TACK STRIP FEEDING MECHJANIS/M Filed July 5, 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 1 ln ventor 54/ 752 5 /4Mf/ Mai-a 1934- E. E. KILMER TACKSTRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1932 v 3 Sheets$heet 2 3nnentormttomeg Aug. 7, 1934. E. KILMER TACK S'TRIP FEEDING MEdHANIsM Filed Juls, 1932 a SheetsSheet s Zhmentor films/e .E (2)152.

Z Y attorney Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES TACK STRIP FEEDINGMECHANISM Elmer E. Kilmer, Chicago, assignor to Republic SteelCorporation, Youngstown. Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationJuly 5, 1932, Serial No- 620,789 9 Claims. 10-175) This inventionrelates to the art of making articles such as tacks and the like fromstrip metal stock. It is particularly concerned with methods for makingsuch articles and with new 5 and improved means for doing so. Morespecifically, the present invention is concerned with new and improvedmethods and apparatus for making tacks. v

In the manufacture of articles, such as tacks l0 and the like, aspracticed heretofore, strips of metal stock approximately three feetlong are fed lengthwise through a tube into and through a nose-piecewhich has a rotating oscillatory movement, so that the opposite sides ofthe strip may be alternately presented to a knife. The forward end ofthe strip is thus fed into a knife zone where the knife cuts off theforward erid at other than a right angle to the edges of the strip byalternately presenting opposite sides of the strip to the lmife. Thestrip is thus cut alternately into portions which are in generaltriangular There are two main disadvantages in this method.comparatively short strips, approximately three feet in length, are usedand the wastage amounts to approximately five percent of each strip. Anattendant is required for a battery of machines to replenish the stripstock in each machine and time is frequently lost because the stock isnot promptly replenished;

Attempts have been made heretofore to employ strip stock in lengthswhich may amount to 100 feet or more, but such attempts have, so far asI am aware, not been commercially satisfactory. The short strips areeasily turned bodily to present opposite sides to the knife, but thiscannot be done with long strips which can be conveniently handled bestin reel or coil form. The advantages of using strip stock in long lengthand in reel 0 form are manifest. The time of an attendant required insuch case would be much less than with the prior method using shortlengths of stock. The machines would continue to operate for a long timeafter having once been supplied with a reel of stock and the wastagewould be reduced to insignificant proportions. For example, if a reel ofstock 100 to 200 feet in length can be used, all but a few feet of itcould be formed into tacks or the like without any wastage whatever, andthen this short length could be used in machines of the prior art andthe wastage limited to about an inch. In this way a strip 100 or 200feet long could be used with a minimum of wastage.

5 According to the present invention, I have been able to solve-thislongstanding problem and am I enabled thereby to use strip stock of suchgreat lengths that it might be considered as being continuous' In thisspecification I have used the term continuous" in reference to stripstock as meaning and including stock greatly in excess of 3 feet andeven 100 or 200 feet or more in length.

Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates the use of stripstock in such continuous lengths preferably in reel or coil form, thetwisting of the forward portion of the stock about its longitudinal axisand uniformly feeding of the forward end of the stock to a predeterminedpoint. It is desirable that the coil of stock should be mountedindependently of the machine and so that the coil may be unwound asrequired. It is also desirable that only the forward portion of thestock should be twisted about its longitudinal axis ,for presentation ofopposite sides thereof to the knife, for this permits the coil to bemounted independently of the machine and obviates the necessity forrotatively oscillating the heavy coil. It is also desirable that theforward end of the stock should be fed uniformly to a predeterminedpoint in the knife zone, for otherwise the amount of metal cut from thestrip may vary and result in tacks and other like articles which areincomplete or otherwise imperfect. Scrap loss.'due to imperfectarticles, is not'only expensive and wasteful, but lowers the quality ofthe product unless the imperfect articles are separated from the perfectarticles, and such separation is diflicult, if not actually impossible.

Various advantageous features of the device herein provided will beapparent from the i'olo lowing detailed description considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar charactersofreference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tack making ma- 5 chine including mystrip feeding mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tack machine and stripfeeding mechanism therefor:

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the feeding mechanism;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 8;

Figure dis a sectional view taken along the line 105 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 7-7 ofFigure 8 and illustrating the auxiliary frictional feed mechanism:

Figure 8 is a top plan view partly broken away no of the oscillatingbarrel and related mechanism.

For convenience in description I have elected to consider the deviceillustrated herein from the view point of an observer looking toward-theap- '5' paratus in the direction of the approach to it by ward end ofthe apparatus. Further in order to simplify the description of theapparatus of the drawings I have elected to segregate various parts ofthe mechanism and will refer to these parts by reference characters A,B, C, D and E. A designates the reel stand upon which is mounted thecoil of strip stock; B the feeding mechanism which includes thestraightening rolls, holding rolls and feed rolls; C the auxiliaryfriction feed mechanism; D the oscillating barrel and driving mechanismtherefor; and E the tack forming machine which is of the usual designand does not constitute a part of this invention other than incombination with the strip stock feeding mechanism consituting parts B,C and D.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1 and 2, part Aof the feeding mechanism comprises a stand or any suitable supportingmeans for the coil 5a of strip stock S. As illustrated this supportingmeans comprises the stand. 1 upon which is rotatably mounted reel 2which is adapted to retain the coil of strip stock.

The parts B and C which comprise the mechanism which is adapted to feedthe strip stock into the oscillating mechanism D are suitably mounted ona base 3, one end of which is secured to the supporting bracket 51a ofpart D, the opposing end thereof is supported from the floor through thestand or supporting member 4. with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6,the part B comprises a carriage 5 mounted for longitudinal reciprocatorymovement insuitable guides 6 formed in the side walls of a base plate 7,the latter being secured by bolts 8 to the top surface of the base 3.Adjacent the rearward portion of the carriage 5 and adapted to becarried thereby are a plurality of vertically disposed straighteningrolls .9 which receive the strip from the reel in a vertical positionafter passing between the horizontal guide rolls 10. Mounted on theforward end of the carriage 5 is the strip feeding box 10a comprising arectangular base plate 11, forming its floor, and having side walls 11a.The box 10a carries a pair of oppositely facing wedge plates 12extending lengthwise of its floor adjacent its side walls 11a, and heldthereagainst through the medium of a plurality of bolts 13 passingthrough the side walls 11a of the box and engaging the plates 12. Eachof the plates 12 is provided with an inwardly projecting vertical wedgeface 14 disposed longitudinally of the box with its thicker end towardsthe inner end of of the box in the direction of its discharge end.Slidably disposed onthe upper surface of the wedge plates 12 is a plate15 which comprises the top of the feed box (Figure 6). This plate ismaintained in position through keeper plates 16 which are secured to theside walls of the box through bolts 1'7. Secured to and ei-rtendingdownwardly from the plate 15 and intermediate the opposed wedge surfaces14 are two. pairs of .retaining pins 18. The pins 18 are adapted to havedisposed therebetween suitable rollers 19 which engage and impartmovement to the strip top plate 15 relative to the plate 12 and thesubsequent adjustability of the space between the opposed rollers 19 iseifected through the medium of the depending wings 20 through which rods21 integrally formed with the plates 12 and extending forwardlytherefrom, freely pass. Coil springs 22 are mounted on the rods andexpand between collars 23 and the wings 20 to move the cover plateinwardly. By adjusting the collars 23 along the rods 21 the tension andpressure of the springs on the wings may be increased or diminished andthe gripping of the rollers 19 on the stock disposed therebetween iscorrespondingly increased or diminished.

The base 3 carries intermediate the straightening rolls 9 and the fedbox 10a a strip holding box 24a comprising a short vertical base plate24 provided with upwardly extending side walls 25. The strip holding box24a is bolted to the base plate 3 as at 26 and carries a pair ofopposite wedge plates 27 which extend lengthwise along its flooradjacent the side walls thereof, and are provided with inwardly facingwedge faces 28. Each wedge plate is provided with outwardly extendingrods 29. A cover plate 30 is slidably carried on the upper surface ofthe wedge plates 27 being re tained in position by keeper strips 31bolted as at 32 to the side walls of the box 2411 and formed at itsrearward end with depending wings 33 through which the rods 29 freelypass. Coil springs 34 are mounted on the rods 29 to expand between thewings 33 and the wedge plates 27 to tend to draw the cover platesrearwardly. The cover 30 is provided with depending pins or studs 35arranged in a rectangular groove between the wedge faces 28, and a pairof opposed vertical rollers 36 is located in the box between each pairof pins and on opposite sides of the path of .the strip stock passingtherethrough. r

The rolls 36 carried by the box 24a disposed between the wedge faces 28precludes the rearward movement of the tack strip when the carriage 5,carrying the straightening rolls and feed. rolls is moved rearwardly.The straightening rolls to. straighten a portion of the stock sumcientto make one tack, and the feed rolls to obtain a new bite on the stripsdthat when the carriage 5 is permitted to move forward the end of thestrip stock will be abutted against the knife of the tack machine.

Mounted on the base 3 and pivotally secured thereto by bolt 38 is atransverse arm 39. Extending rearwardly of the arm 39 and parallel tothe base 3 is a lever 40 having" a bifurcated portion 41 formed on theouter end thereof. The portion 41 has journalled therein a roller 42which co-acts with a cam element 43 disposed on the forward end of thecarriage 5. Lateral movement of the roller 42 across the crown of thecam ele-- ment 43 causes reciprocating movement of the carriage 5 thusautomatically straightening the strip, on the rearward movement of thecarriage,

and feeding the end of the stock against the guide disposed beyond theknife of the tack machine in the forward movement of the carriage. Theforward movement of the carriage 5 is effected by means of the suspendedweight 45 connected to the end of a cable 45'.

The part 0 (Figures 3 and 4) which constitutes the auxiliary frictionfeeding mechanism for the strip stock comprises a base plate 46 which isbolted to and extends transverselyof the base 3. This plate 46constitutes a table upon which is rotatably' mounted a pair ofvertically disposed feed rolls 4'7 between which the strip stock isadapted to pass. The clearance between these rolls and the strip stockpassing therebetween is such that when the strip is in normal verticalposition these rolls do not act on the strip. A driving connection ismaintained between the two rollers 47 through ring gears 47a disposedadjacent the base thereof, the teeth of which are in intermeshingrelation. Pawls 48 carried by plates 49 pivotally mounted on the base 46are adapted to engage the gearing 47a disposed adjacent the base of therollers 4'7. Suitable linkage 50 operativelyconnects the plates 49 withthe opposite ends of the laterally extending arm 39. The linkage is soadjusted that the rolls are adapted to rotate only at such times as theend of the strip stock is in twisted position and substantially parallelwith the anvil of the tack machine. The end of the strip is in thisposition just prior to the start of the downward stroke of the knife.The rollers 47, therefore, are effective to feed the stock forward onlywhen the latter is disposed in a twisted position.

The part D (Figures 1, 2 and 8) of the feeding mechanism comprises anoutwardly extending plate or bracket 51, the forward end of whichissecured to the frame of the tack machine. The opposite end of thebracket has mounted thereon a post 51a upon which, intermediate the endsthereof, is pivotally carried the forward end of the base 3 supportingthe parts B and C. Pivotally mounted as at 52 on the top of the bracket51 is an angulated lever arm 53. Adjacent the extremity of thelongitudinal portion of the lever arm 53 is mounted a yoke member 54,the ends of which support a rack' 55. Mounted on the outer end of thelateral arm 56 of the lever 53 is a post 57 which adiustably receivesone end of a rod 58, the opposite end of which is secured eccentricallyto the gear 59 of the tack machine. Intermediate the length of the arm56 is a link 59a which connects the arm 56 with the end of the lever arm39. The upper end of the post 510. is provided with a yoke 60a whichsupports the rear end of the oscillating barrel 60, the opposing end ofwhich is supported on the anvil of the tack cutting machine through anose piece 62 thereof which rests upon the anvil. Intermediate the endsof the barrel 60 and disposed on the exterior thereof is a pinion gear63. This gear engages the rack 55 and eifects an oscillating movement tothe barrel upon lateral movement of the lever arm 53 upon which the yokeand rack are mounted. Carried by the barrel near the forward end thereofis a housing 64 within which is mounted a pair of rollers 65. Therollers engage opposite sides of the strip stock passing therebetween,and aid the nose piece in presenting the end of the strip stock to thecutting knife in a substantially horizontal position. i

As the knife of the tack machine moves upward the gear 59 moves the rod58 which through its connection with the arm 56 moves the same aboutpivot 52. movement of the arm 56 causes a lateral movement of the leverarm 53a which through the rack carried thereby effects a rotation of theoscillating barrel 60 through 180 degrees, thus presenting the oppositefaces of the tack strip to the knife blade. Simultaneously with therotation of the barrel 60 the lever 39, linked to the arm 56 throughlink 59o, arm 40 and roller 43 carried thereby are adapted to move thecarriage rearwardly to straighten and grip and feed forward sufficientstock to make a single tack. Movement of the lever 39 in addition isadapted to effect the rotatidn of the rollers 4'7 'and are effective .todrive the strip'forward at of the weights 45 on the carriage on thestrip,

will overcome the friction between the rollers 65 and the strip stockdisposed in the barrel and will drive the stock against the guideforward of the knife, and maintain the same in such position until theblank has been severed.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter in order to sufliciently set forth the illustrated embodiment,I do not wish to be limited to the exact terminology, but what I desireto secure by Letters Patent is contained in the following claims.

What I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding strip stock to a tack machine having a. cutter,comprising means for straightening a continuous length of strip stock,reciprocatory means adapted to grip the stock and move therewith forfeeding the same forward, means for twisting the forward portion of thestrip, and auxiliary feeding means disposed intermediate said grippingmeans and said twisting means for assisting the feeding means dining thetwisting of the strip stock.

2. Apparatus for feeding strip stock to a tack machine or the likecomprising a reciprocable carriage, strip straightening and feedingmeans carried by said carriage, means disposed intermediate saidstraightening means and said feeding means for precluding the rearwardmovement of the strip stock, means for effecting the forward movement ofsaid carriage, means for twisting the end of the strip stock andauxiliary stock feeding means disposed intermediate the twisted meansand carriage effective when the stock is in a twisted position to feedthe stock forward.

3. The method of feeding flat continuous stock to a shear for severingsegments from the end thereof and wherein one face of the stock is firstpresented to the shear and then the other which consists in supportingthe stock against rotation in a vertical plane in one zone, gripping thestock and urging it forward in said zone twisting the stock'about itslongitudinal axis in another zone and frictionally driving the stockintermediate said zones during the twisting thereof.

4. The method of feeding flat continuous stock to a shear for severingsegments from the end thereof and wherein one face of the stock is firstpresented to the shear and then the other which consists in moving thestock toward the shear, supporting the stock in one zone againstrotation and in a vertical plane, gripping the stock and urging itforward in said zone twisting the stock in another zone about alongitudinal axis and through 180 degrees of turn and frictionally thestock intermediate said zones during the twisting thereof.

Ill

5. The method of propelling strip stock from a vertical plane, whichconsists in turning the end of the stock at an angle to the vertical tocause the stock to engage the driving rolls and be propelled thereby.

6. Apparatus for feeding strip stock to a shear of a tack machinecomprising reciprocatory tack machine having a shear, the combination ofa reciprocable carriage, straightening rolls and gripping means mountedon said carriage, means for urging said carriage forward to feed thestrip stock into cutting position, means operable by the tack machinefor moving the carriage rearwardly to straighten successive lengths ofstrip stock, means for twisting the forward portion of said stock aboutits longitudinal axis to present opposite faces thereof to the cutter ofa tack machine and stock feeding means disposed intermediate thetwisting means and gripping means efl'ective when the stock is in atwisted position to feed the stock forward.

8. In combination with a tack making machine gripping means effectivewhen the stock is in a twisted position to feed the stock forward.

9. In combination with a tack making machine having a cutter, meansadapted to propel a continuous length of strip stock to the cutterincluding means for twisting the forward portion of said stock about itslongitudinal axis to present opposite faces thereof to the cutter of thetack machine, a reciprocatory carriage, straightening rolls carried bythe carriage, gripping means mounted on said carriage and adapted toengage the stock and move therewith to feed the stock forward, andauxiliary stock feeding means disposed intermediate the twisting meansand gripping means effective when the stock is in a twisted position tofeed the stock forward.

